How Hackers Are Hitting Healthcare via Their Supply Chain
Healthcare organisations are increasingly under siege by cyber threats, with attacks on supply chains causing the greatest havoc on patient care.
A startling report from Proofpoint and Ponemon Institute unveils that a whopping 92% of US healthcare bodies have been hit by cyberattacks within the last year, pinpointing supply chain intrusions as extremely detrimental.
These intrusions, caused by hackers targeting third-party vendors, significantly interrupt the provisioning of key services and supplies, leading to extensive disruptions throughout the healthcare landscape.
An alarming 82% of those who suffered from these attacks reported severe interferences to patient services, marking an increase from 77% in the preceding year.
The fallout from these disruptions includes postponed surgeries, unattended medical examinations, and, often, deterioration in patient outcomes.
Dire Consequences for Patient Wellness
The impact of supply chain attacks is acutely borne by patients, where delays can swiftly swing from recoverable to critical.
In grim instances, such attacks have direct correlations with patient fatalities. About 28% of impacted healthcare entities noticed a hike in patient deaths, a terrifying increase of 5% over the prior year.
This dire statistic underscores the critical necessity for healthcare entities to fortify their defences, focusing keenly on safeguarding their supply chains.
Additionally, attacks through cloud breaches, ransomware, and business email compromises (BEC) are rampant but do not wield the same dire consequences on patient care as supply chain attacks do.
Compromises on the supplier's side can leave medical facilities scrambling, devoid of crucial products or services essential for timely healthcare delivery.
“It is more important than ever for healthcare organisations to be aware of the threat to their security. Being prepared for a healthcare breach – by becoming HIPAA compliant and implementing robust cybersecurity practices – can mean all the difference in how your organisation copes with the aftermath of an incident."
Hope for health
While supply chain threats loom large, the narrative around ransomware attacks in healthcare shows a glimmer of hope.
Previously deemed among the gravest cyber threats, the vulnerability to ransomware in healthcare has seen a modest decline. Now, 54% admit to feeling at risk, a decrement from 64% in the previous year.
This downturn might be accredited to hackers steering clear of healthcare and other critical infrastructures to avert drawing law enforcement’s attention, potentially dismantling their operations.
Yet, for those still ensnared by ransomware, the financial toll has surged, with the average ransom exceeding US$1m by 10%.
Despite making strides in ransomware defence, healthcare institutions remain embroiled in a tougher battle against supply chain vulnerabilities, awaiting stronger cybersecurity measures from their partners to truly secure patient well-being.
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